Every effort is made to implement a fair and impartial process to determine each class of the McNairy County Music Hall of Fame. The goal, of course, is to honor the most deserving inductees from each round of nominations. While it is certainly not an essay contest, the quality of a nomination letter inevitably impacts the panels views on the nominee. Good nominees deserve well written letters. “Uncle Johnny is a fine Christian man and a good guitar picker and I believe he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,” just won’t cut it. Uncle Johnny may be all those things and he may deserve the honor, but that sort of nomination won’t help his chances. The following guidelines will help you compose the best letter of nomination possible.

Read the past induction speeches. This is the best advice we can offer. The information provided in the biographies of previous inductees will best illustrate the kind of facts and details that help panelist determine a candidate’s eligibility.

Be specific. Sweeping generalizations like “Uncle Johhny is the best guitarist ever,” do not help the panel in their deliberations. Treat the letter of nomination like it was a resume. Cite Uncle Johnny’s accomplishment, awards, or recognitions. Be specific about how he has made an impact on others. Even if the nominee is well known, don’t assume panelists will know her/his story. Give us the relevant details!

Stay on point. Always remember that inductees are selected on the basis of their MUSICAL qualifications. Telling the nominee’s whole life story, extolling their virtuous character, or offering other biographical details that don't relate to their musical pursuits will not improve their chances for induction.

Be thorough but succinct. The selection panel will read multiple letters of nomination each year. It is therefore necessary to include all the relevant points in the briefest format possible. There is no limit on the word count for nominations, but long, rambling letters do not help the panel make the best decisions.

One nominee, one letter. Do not submit a list of people you think belong in the McNairy County Music Hall of Fame. Each year, we receive nominations suggesting several worthy inductees in one letter. It is difficult to dissect and reformat these letters in such a way that makes sense to the selection panel without handicapping the nominees. It is permissible to make multiple nominations, so please submit one letter for each person you wish nominate.

No campaigning necessary. Inundating the panel with an organized letter writing campaign may actually hurt your nominee. Panelist are charged with selecting the most worthy recipients, not counting the number of votes/letters for nominees. One nomination that makes a solid case is better than twenty hastily composed letters.

Save the supplementals. Attaching photos, press kits, artist's statements and the like to your nomination will not help the nominee's chances. You may be asked to provide that type of supplemental material to assist in the preparation of a presentation if your nominee is selected for induction, but it will only muddy the water in the nomination phase. Instead, use the information in those materials to craft your best, most thorough letter of nomination.

Be Patient. The McNairy County Music Hall of Fame receives many nominations each year. If your nominee is not selected for induction the first time, it doesn’t mean they are undeserving, it simply reflects the high number and quality of nominations. Once submitted, nominations are good for two years and we welcome resubmissions. Please bear with us as we endeavor to recognize all deserving nominees.